Charles Edward Street

Submitted by wollongongcityl... on Wed, 09/04/2014 - 15:38

First Name:

Charles

Middle Name:

Edward

Last Name:

Street

Date of Birth:

Sunday, January 31, 1886

Mother's Name:

Delia Street

Father's Name:

James Street

Date Enlisted:

Thursday, June 29, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Unit:

45th Battalion

Company:

6th Reinforcements

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Sunday, September 30, 1917

Place of Death:

Belgium

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Charles Edward Street was born on January 31, 1886 to James & Delia Street, at Corrimal; he was one of seven at that point in time. When Charles was born his father was working in a local coal mine, but a few years later he bought a small farm where the family grew fruit, flowers & vegetables.

Charles’ brother owned a farm in Yanco/Leeton where he would often go to work as a farm hand. According to family, he smoked a pipe and had a very cheeky nature.

When war was declared in 1914, Charles was probably back in Corrimal to visit his family when he and his younger brother, Edwin, decided to enlist at the Corrimal enlistment office on June 22, 1916. He was thirty years old at the time. One week later, on the 29th of June, the brothers were sworn in at Barroul House, Kiama.

He sailed from Sydney on October 7, 1916, on the HMAT A40 Ceramic as part of the 45th Battalion, 6th Reinforcements, disembarking at Plymouth, England, on November 21, 1916. There the brothers were based at the Codford Training Camp in Wiltshire, near the Salisbury Plains. The battalion trained for months before they were allowed to leave for France in January 1917, but Charles wasn't with them; his teeth needed fixing. Charles rejoined the battalion in March 1917 as a trained sniper.

He was in hospital on numerous occasions with scabies and high fevers of unknown origins. After one such stay, he re-joined his unit and was given orders to head to the front line to participate in the Battle of Polygon Wood, an area 4 miles (6.4 km) south-west of Passchendale. By the time he had reached it, however, the password had been changed and he was shot and killed by Allied troops on September 30, 1917.

His effects were bagged & sent to nearby headquarters; his body was tagged for burial but it was never found.

His parents were notified of his death by telegram 6 weeks later, on the 19th of November, & received his effects on the 20th of May, 1918. Charles bequeathed his money to his mother & older brother, Daniel.

Charles was awarded the British War medal and the Victory Medal. His name is on the Corrimal Memorial as well as the Menin Memorial Gate at Ypres, Belgium.

Sources:

Australian War Memorial, First World War Embarkation Rolls - Charles Edward Street, Australian War Memorial Canberra, 2014, http://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1971772/, viewed 30 October 2014.

NAA: B2455, STREET CHARLES EDWARD